On November 15, Trump loyalist Roger Stone was convicted in federal court on seven counts, including charges of lying to Congress and witness tampering. Now, right-wing and far-right media figures are urging President Donald Trump to pardon Stone.
Stone was found guilty on charges related to his September 2017 testimony to the House Intelligence Committee investigating Russian interference during the 2016 election, specifically regarding WikiLeaks’ release of hacked Democratic National Committee emails.
In response to the verdict, right-wing and far-right media figures are now calling on Trump to pardon Stone. Stone himself has pleaded with Trump to pardon him through a message sent to far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. (Jones, in turn, has responded to the verdict by threatening to out the jury in the Stone trial.) An online petition is currently circulating calling for the pardon. An online petition is currently circulating calling for the pardon. Though Stone has remained consistently loyal to Trump, some have noted that a pardon would result in Stone losing immunity, which could result in him being compelled to testify in a future legal proceeding involving Trump.
One America News Network’s Jack Posobiec tweeted: “What bunch of bullshiff this all is. And they want to put 70-year old Roger Stone behind bars for trash-talking Hillary Clinton? End the witch hunt @realDonaldTrump Roger deserves a pardon and everyone knows it.”
Conservative commentator and conspiracy theorist Mark Dice tweeted, “Pardon Roger Stone.”
Far-right commentator Cassandra Fairbanks tweeted that “Trump should nut up and pardon Roger Stone, Julian Assange and Gen. Flynn immediately,” adding, “It’s getting ridiculous.”
Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg said that Trump should pardon Stone because Trump “is getting impeached anyway.”
Co-founder of Latinos for Trump Marco Gutierrez shared on Twitter the petition for Trump to pardon Stone.
White nationalist Faith Goldy tweeted, “PARDON ROGER STONE,” tagging Trump's twitter account. Goldy added, “Media will have a field day regardless of what you do. Do the right thing!!”
Conservative writer Daniel Bostic tweeted that “Trump must pardon Roger Stone,” adding, “Anything less is unacceptable.”
According to HuffPost’s Andy Campbell, far-right gang the Proud Boys has been pushing for Trump to pardon Stone.
Conservative strategist Chris Barron tweeted, “Dear @realDonaldTrump: pardon Roger Stone.”
Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton tweeted, “Roger Stone is another good candidate for a pardon.”
Townhall editor Matt Vespa tweeted, “Trump should pardon Roger Stone.”
On Telegram, far-right personalities Milo Yiannopoulos, Laura Loomer, and Jacob Wohl all shared the numbers for conservative giant Rush Limbaugh, the White House, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), urging followers to call for an “immediate presidential pardon.”
Yiannopoulos also told Vox reporter Jane Coaston that if Trump doesn’t pardon Stone, “I’ll lead the impeachment effort. He will not deserve to be re-elected.”
Conservative strategist Seth Weathers tweeted that Trump “needs to immediately pardon Roger Stone," adding that Stone “shouldn’t have to spend one day in jail over this political persecution.”
Bill Mitchell was succinct in his rationale for why Stone should be pardoned:
Sebastian Gorka suggested that Trump should pardon Stone and appoint him as ambassador to Ukraine.
Buck Sexton suggested Stone should be pardoned: “There's no real damage here.”
There was also this guy broadcasting in front of the White House:
